The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments tomorrow in a case challenging the constitutionality of Tennessee’s ban on transgender procedures and treatments for minors. Arguments will begin at 10 a.m. EST. Tennessee Solicitor General Matt Rice will defend the law before the court while Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti will speak to the media following the proceeding. Opposing the law will be American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Chase Strangio, the first openly transgender attorney to represent clients before the nation’s highest court. The Associated Press reports that Strangio has been instrumental in several trans-related legal battles, including representing former Army Intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, challenging a ban on transgender people serving in the military, and assisting with an LGBT worker discrimination case that went to the high court. Strangio will share time with lawyers for the Biden administration, Bloomberg Law reports. An audio recording of the arguments will be available on the court’s website after the session.

The next legal clinic for veterans in Knoxville will take place Dec. 11 from 12-1 p.m. EST at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty St., Knoxville 37919. This is a general advice clinic sponsored by the Knoxville Bar Association, KBA Barristers, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, the University of Tennessee College of Law, the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office and the local Veterans Affairs office. Attorneys and law students are needed. Sign up to volunteer here.

TBA's Year End CLE event brings you quick and easy content, right from the comfort of your own home or office, whether you need one hour of CLE or 15. Hourly packages make it easy to get just what you need. Check out our 15 hour package, 12 hour package, 10 hour package, 8 hour package or 6 hour package. Interested in topical packages? See all options or build your own any time by visiting cle.tba.org to access more than 200 on-demand programs.

It's time for TBA's Year End CLE event! This annual tradition brings you quick and easy content, right from the comfort of your own home or office, whether you need one hour of CLE or 15. There is a quality mix of packages based on hours needed or topic, live webcasts and on-demand video — all offered virtually. And our excellent customer support at cle@tnbar.org will get you over the finish line for your 2024 CLE requirements. Select packages by hour (six, eight, 10, 12 or 15) or by topic, or build your own any time by visiting cle.tba.org to access over 200 on-demand programs. Topical packages include the Ultimate Ethics Package, Law Practice Management Package, Mediation Package, Attorney Wellness Package and Experience TBA Convention Package. Packages also are available based on practice area. Check out all the options here!

TBA’s Group Health Insurance, provided by BlueCross BlueShield (BCBST), offers guaranteed issue coverage, with no health questions and no pre-existing condition exclusions. The Chattanooga law firm of Campbell & Campbell made the switch. Here is what office manager Cynthia Jones says about the program: “When we first moved our small firm health insurance coverage to TBA Member Insurance, we saved around $15,000 on our renewal with BCBST with the same coverage. Renewals are about the easiest I have ever experienced, and the staff is knowledgeable, friendly and extremely helpful. There is no reason to not make the switch.” Find out more or get your quote now.

Atlanta lawyer Ollie M. Harton died May 5. A Tennessee-licensed attorney and TBA member, Harton earned his law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and a master of laws from Emory University School of Law. He started his career as a judicial law clerk in the Tennessee Court of Appeals and served as a trial lawyer in the Tennessee Attorney General's Office. Harton joined Hawkins Parnell & Young in Atlanta 1988 and served there as a long-time shareholder. At the firm, Harton was key in expanding the footprint beyond Georgia and turning the Toxic Tort Litigation Group into a national presence. He personally tried over 90 toxic tort cases nationwide and was a giant in the defense of asbestos litigation. The firm has more on his career.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has suspended Sumner County lawyer Jocelyn Doria Mims from the practice of law until further order of the court. The court took the action after Mims was adjudged guilty of two felony counts of tampering with evidence, one count of making false report, and three counts of Intentional failure to report child sexual abuse. The matter has been referred to the Board of Professional Responsibility to determine the extent of final discipline to be imposed.

The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Hamilton County lawyer Patrick Bryant Hawley yesterday after finding that he poses a threat of substantial harm to the public. Hawley is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases, and must cease representing existing clients by Dec. 26. Previous reporting indicated that Hawley had been charged with s several federal crimes, including sexual exploitation of children and possession and distribution of child pornography.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case looking at whether judges improperly sealed files critical of Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Cheryl Blackburn’s performance on the bench. The Nashville Banner, which is bringing the suit, says that defense attorneys and prosecutors have long been concerned about Blackburn’s performance following a stroke she had in 2021. According to the Banner, Blackburn stumbled over her words, misspoke and appeared to fall asleep multiple times during a recent case. When the news outlet attempted to unseal a motion allegedly making specific claims about Blackburn’s competency, the motion was denied. The Tennessee Court of Appeals later narrowly upheld that ruling. The high court now will consider the request. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters, the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government and the Tennessee Press Association have filed a brief supporting the Banner’s motion to unseal the documents.

Wayne County General Sessions & Juvenile Court Judge James Y. Ross received the Sharon G. Lee Award of Excellence at the 2024 Annual Tennessee Municipal Court Judges Conference. Ross was elected as Wayne County general sessions and Clifton city judge in 1998. He also has served as Collinwood city judge since 2000. Prior to joining the bench, Ross served as Wayne County Attorney for 10 years and as a solo practitioner. The award, named for former Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee, recognizes a judge who has made a significant contribution to the Municipal Judges Conference. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more on Ross’ career.